Special Master clerkship Forum

[Anonymous User]

I have an interview with a Special Master at the fed court of claims. The current clerk said he/she tends to give offers on the spot and only interviews a handful of people he/she is very serious about hiring, so an interview is very promising.

Aside from this, I completely struck out on fed clerkships (not even an interview), and I'm pretty intent on clerking for a variety of reasons. I don't have very many promising job prospects, so at this point I'm kind of over applying and am considering taking the clerkship if offered just because, well, why the hell not. It would be a huge relief. It's only a year, I have very little debt (relatively speaking), and I have no experience with the federal courts at all.

I have absolutely no idea how the clerkship would look to future employers, however. This is what concerns me. I can't imagine it would hurt, but I'm wondering if it might make sense to pursue other things for the year. (Note: I have a part-time job offer with the solo practitioner I work for I'll continue doing anyway because it's all possible to do via email and it's in the field I want to work in eventually.)

Any thoughts, anecdotal information, opinions, etc.?

[Anonymous User]

I have an interview with a Special Master at the fed court of claims. The current clerk said he/she tends to give offers on the spot and only interviews a handful of people he/she is very serious about hiring, so an interview is very promising.

Aside from this, I completely struck out on fed clerkships (not even an interview), and I'm pretty intent on clerking for a variety of reasons. I don't have very many promising job prospects, so at this point I'm kind of over applying and am considering taking the clerkship if offered just because, well, why the hell not. It would be a huge relief. It's only a year, I have very little debt (relatively speaking), and I have no experience with the federal courts at all.

I have absolutely no idea how the clerkship would look to future employers, however. This is what concerns me. I can't imagine it would hurt, but I'm wondering if it might make sense to pursue other things for the year. (Note: I have a part-time job offer with the solo practitioner I work for I'll continue doing anyway because it's all possible to do via email and it's in the field I want to work in eventually.)

Any thoughts, anecdotal information, opinions, etc.?

You probably won't get the standard clerkship bonus if you go to a firm after, but the CFC is an amazing court to clerk for because of its location and reputation. Besides being in the building with all the judges of the CFC, you also have the Fed Circuit and are a stone's throw from the Treasury and the White House. I also forget the federal ethics rules, but you may need a waiver to continue doing the work for the solo. I'd take the CFC opportunity hands-down though unless the solo is some bizarre kind of specialist boutique in your field.